Freezer chest hinge



Sept. 26, 1961 H. D. SQUIRE FREEZER CHEST HINGE Filed Jan. 10, 1958 3,001,226 lc Patented Sept. 26, 1961 3,001,226 FREEZER CHEST HINGE Herbert D. Squire, Galesburg, Ill., assignor to Admiral Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 10, 1958, SeraNo. 703,280 3 Claims. (Cl. 16--190) This invention relates to improvements in hinges and more particularly to an improved hinge structure for the lid of a chest type freezer refrigerator.

As is well known to those versed in the art, the more common type of freezer includes a chest-like cabinet, having a lid hingedly secured to one edge, which may be raised and lowered to open or close the same. Necessarily these lids are relatively heavy and, since they are used mostly by housewives, it is desirable that some form of counterbalance means be provided to assist in opening the lid, to maintain the lid in an open position when the foodstuffs are being removed, and, at the same time, to make such provisions that the counterbalance is ineffective to open the lid when it is supposed to be closed.

One of the more common counterbalancing expedients is to provide spring means in conjunction with the lid hinge where it can be effective and at the same time be inconspicuous. i

The present invention contemplates a spring counterbalanced hinge structure which is very simple and economical in construction; one that will operate for long periods of time without lubrication or wear; and, one that is relatively simple to install and has a minimum number of parts.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the provision for an automatically movable attachment point for the spring to the lid whereby the counterbalancing eifect of the spring on the lid is largely overcome when the lid is in the open position. A further advantage resides in the provision of a simple expedient for predetermining the maximum open position of the lid.

Still other advantages of the invention and the invention itself will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical medial sectional view of a hinge structure showing in section a portion of the lid and the cabinet to which it is attached ina closed position;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in a maximum open position;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a spring coupling link;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a link block; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a link block housing.

Throughout the drawings, like part are designatedby like reference characters.

Briefly, my invention contemplates a pair of binge leaves or elements pivotally connected to each other and respectively connected to the lid and cabinet, with spring counterbalance means connected to the cabinet and the lid leaf element, the connection of the spring to the leaf element being by a link which partakes of a movement when the lid is opened or closed to change the point where the spring pressure is applied to the lid leaf element.

As best viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated the back wall 10 of a chest type freezer. As is well known these include a box-like structure having four side walls, including the back wall 10, and a bottom wall. The top is usually open and is closed by a hinged lid 11. The usual gasket 12 is provided for sealing purpose against a breaker strip 13 on the top edge of the cabinet.

The hinge structure includes an elongated housing of generally rectangular cross-section and including a front wall 15 which is secured to the back wall 10 by bolts 16. Outwardly extending spaced parallel side walls 17 are carried by the front wall 15 and connect to a bridging back wall 18.

The side walls 17 are provided with triangular extensions 17a, the upper ends of which are provided with hinge pin openings for receiving a hinge pin 20.

The back wall 18 is bent forward at 18a to the front wall where it extends under and is welded to a tab 15a backwardly bent from the front wall, to provide a partition which comprises a spring abutment on its underside and a seat on its upper side. The partition is formed with an elongated slot 21 which provide a clearance space for a hook bar that connects to the upper leaf. Thus the housing provides a pair of spaced parallel spring leaves 17a for receiving the hinge pin 20.

The rear edge of the lid has secured thereto the upper leaf portion of the hinge. It includes a housing having a top wall 26 and a pair of spaced parallel side walls 27 the forward edges of which are bent inwardly to provide a pair of spaced flanges 28. A pair of ears 29 are provided at the rear and are apertured to receive screws for securing it to the rear edge of the lid.

The device described forms a socket for holding a link block 33.

It should be noted that the link block serves a dual function of reinforcing the bracket as well as supporting the link. It includes a body of plastic, such as nylon, shaped to conform to and be received by the hinge leaf socket and including a pair of laterally extending bottom bosses Which are bored to receive the hinge pin. The block is provided with a rear wall 36 that seats against the edge I of the lid and with a pair of spaced front portions 37 that seat against the inner surfaces of the front flanges 28 of the socket.

The inner surfaces of the side walls of the block are formed with a link seat, which as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 5, includes a slanting front wall 38 and a substantially vertical rear wall 39 which are joined at the bottom by a semicircular seat 40.

A spring rod 42 is provided and has a lower threaded end 4212 which receives a nut 43 and washer 44 that engages the lower end of spring 45, the upper end of which abuts the wall 18a. The washer 44 is sufficiently large that lateral movement of the lower end of the spring bar 42 is limited by engagement of the washer with the walls 7 18 and 15.

The hook end 42a of the rod 42 engages with a link or spring connector, FIG. 4, which is seated in the seat 40 and comprises a pair of seat engaging members 50 in spaced parallel relation to each other and having rounded lower ends 50a for pivotal engagement in the seat 40. The ends of these members are connected to a hook engaging bar 50b which is in the form of a slightly enlarged cylinder.

The hook engaging bar is adapted to be engaged by the hook 42a of the spring rod 42.

When the lid is in the closed position, FIG. 1, the spring hook rod is held under tension, as it is at all times, by the spring 45. At this time the spring pressure is holding the link against the forward wall 38 of its seat. This causes the spring force applied to the upper hinge leaf member to be so close to the hinge pin that the spring pressure is ineffective to lift the lid and therefore the lid rests upon the upper edge of the cabinet with the gasket slightly compressed to provide a good seal. The amount of pressure can be controlled by the adjustment of the nut 43 and should be such that the gasket is not too greatly deformed but is sufliciently compressed to provide the desired seal.

When the lid is opened, the opening is assisted by the spring which becomes more effective as the lid is opened and the connector bar 50b moves rearward of the hinge pm.

As soon as the lid is raised to the place where the link block wall 38 is vertical, or slightly before, the spring pressure causes the connector link to move from the position shown in FIG. 1 where it is resting against the front wall 38 to a rearward position until it engages with the rear Walls 39. ,This occurs at a time when the effect of the spring is decreased because it has less compression thereof. The result is a further shift of the point of attachment for the spring away from the hinge pin, resulting in a longer lever arm for cooperation with the spring and ofisetting the result due to decrease in spring pressure so that the overall result is that the lid raises smoothly and steadily without jerks or greatly increased momentum until the rear flanges 28 of the hinge socket engage with and seat against the upper seat surface provided by the wall 18a. Thus, the lid comes to a gentle stop with no bad effects due to a tendency to over travel as is present in ordinary hinges.

When the lid is closed the reverse action takes place. That is, as the lid is lowered the coupling link moves upward and over toward the pivot with increasing tension on the spring 45 until the lid is nearly closed. Thus this pressure increases as the lid is closed and the out-ofbalance Weight becomes more, ofisetting the out-of-balance Weight until the link block wall 39 is in a nearly vertical or has reached a vertical position. At this time, and this is the time when the lid is about to contact the gasket, the link block snaps to its forward position, as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the spring pressure becomes inelfective to completely balance the lid and the lid closes with the desired amount of pressure.

This is also accompanied by a slight snap sound which is sufliciently audible that the user knows the lid is in the position where it is properly sealed closed.

It will be noted that the connector block also provides I claim:

1. A counterbalance structure for a lid that is rotatable about horizontal pivot means at one edge thereof between a substantially horizontal closed position wherein the weight of said lid effects a seal with support means therebeneath and a substantially non-horizontal open position, said structure comprising lever means having a fulcrum end spaced from said pivot means and rotatable thereabout with said lid and a free end, first and second stop means mounted for rotation with said lid for limiting the angular movement of said lever means about said fulcrum end between corresponding first and second positions, and tensioning means mounted to act between external reaction means and said free end for alternatively biasing said lever means against said first and second stop means and for applying moment to said lid through said stop means counter to the moment produced by the weight of said lid, said lever means being biased into said first position when said lid is in said closed position, the line of action of said tensioning means passing closer to said pivot means in said first position than in said second positon whereby said counter moment is lessened when said lid is in said closed position.

2. The counterbalance structure of claim 1 wherein said line of action intersects said fulcrum in said second position of said lever means when said lid is at a minute angle from said closed position, whereby said countermoment will not be lessened during closure by movement of said lever means from said second position to said first position until said lid is almost completely closed.

3. The counterbalance structure of claim 1 wherein said tensioning means uses most of its stored energy to aid in opening said lid whereby said countermoment is lessened as said open position is approached, and wherein said stop means are of resilient shock-absorbent nonmetallic material integrally enclosed in a metallic shell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,085,422 Hills Ian. 27, 1914 1,721,308 Lormor July 16, 1929 2,316,302 Van Dyke et a1; Apr. 13, 1943 2,328,833 Moon et a1. Sept. 7, 1943 2,777,157 Burke Jan. 15, 1957 

